Flexible track for miniature electric trains

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a flexible track for model railways, capable of assuming a straight or curve configuration. The track comprises support elements consisting of sleepers or ties connected by resilient sections so that they can be moved close to one another and provided with seats into which clamping or fastening members are insertable for holding the track down.

United States Patent Casadio 1 1 Aug. 15, 1972 [54] FLEXIBLE TRACK FORMINIATURE ELECTRIC TRAINS [72] Inventor: Pietro Casadio, via .lacopo diPaolo 521 US. c1. ..238/l0 E, 46/1 [51] Int. Cl. ..A63h 19/30 [58] Fieldof Search ..46/l; 238/10 E; 104/60 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 2,711,857 6/1955 Vanetzian et al. ..238/l0 B 2,703,204 3/1955Miller ..238/l0 E 2,562,623 7/1951 Levering ..238/l0 B PrimaryExaminer-Ar thur L. La Point Assistant Examiner-Richard A. BertschAttorneyGuido Modiano and Albert Josif [5 7] ABSTRACT The inventionrelates to a flexible track for model railways, capable of assuming astraight or curve configuration.

The track comprises support elements consisting of sleepers or tiesconnected by resilient sections so that they can be moved close to oneanother and provided with seats into which clamping or fastening membersare insertable for holding the track down.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAus 15 m2 sum 1 or 2 I N V E NTOR.Pietro CASAD IO PATENTEDAus 1 5 I972 SHEEI 2 OF 2 INVENTOR PietroCASADIO AGH 1T FLEXIBLE TRACK FOR MINIATURE ELECTRIC BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a flexible track for modelrailways, which is capable of assuming a straight or curve configurationaccording to a desired path.

As known the shaped sections employed in the field of miniature electrictrains to form the track, have poor stiffness due to the not large trackgauge being used and thus because of the very limited dimension of thecross section of the structural shapes. The latter can, therefore, besupplied to the users in roll form of not excessive overall size and mayassume the desired configuration in a ready manner.

The supports for the track usually consist of rigid material, and insuch case are provided with already assembled rails. Since long time,however, embodiments making use of flexible material are known, which ofcourse are practical if the sections from which the supports areobtained, have a certain extension.

In order to hold the track down onto the sleepers formed by such knownflexible sections, there was suggested that each sleeper for each railof the track be provided with a pair of small lugs between which therail is inserted. Such operation particularly in relation to curvedsections of the track is the more laborious and difficult the longer theflexible track section.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is that ofeliminating the above-mentioned difficulties which arise in theapplication of the rails to the presently used flexible supports.

Another object of the present invention is that of fully takingadvantage of the flexible support features thereby to make it easy,ready and quick to arrange and hold rails on said supports whichevertheir development can be. Another important objectis that no limits areimposed to the length of the flexible support or of the rail sectionswhich are supplied in skeins except those dictated by packaging andshipping requirements.

Another object of the present invention is that the flexible track besimple in structure, easy to manufacture, safe in use as well as of lowcost.

These and still further objects which will betterappear hereinafter areattained by a track for electric miniature trains (according to theinvention) comprising a pair of structural shapes or sections formingthe rails, support sections for the rails, which can be connected to oneanother and consist of sleepers and longitudinal sections which connectthe sleepers two-bytwo in alignment relationship of either rails, oraltematively of both rails, characterized in that the said sleepers atthe intersection spots with the said alignments are provided withpressure insertion seats for relative clip members which can be at leastpartially resiliently deformed and are capable of engaging and .holdingthe said rails down on the sleepers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantagesof the invention will better appear from the description of preferrednot-exclusive embodiments of a flexible track illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a section of flexible track for electricminiature trains, free of rails, and where only two end sleepers areshown in detail according to a first embodiment;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a detail in an enlarged scale of one sleeperaccording to FIG. 1, and more precisely FIG. 2 is a top view showing asleeper before the rails are mounted and FIG. 3 is a vertical sectionalong the sleeper axis alter a rail has been laid down and before thecomplete locking of the same;

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the clamping means for securing the rails accordingto the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3, shown in a top and side view,respectively;

FIG. 6 shows a portion of the vertical section of -a second embodimentof the sleeper with the clamping means already inserted into the sleeperand free from rails.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Mth particular reference to theabove Figures the flexible track sections each consisting of a singlepiece of plastics material, comprise a plurality of sleepers generallyindicated at l which have a substantially parallelepipedic shape anddefine a common plane.

Preferably the sleepers have surfaces in sight with a wooden-likeappearence and are hollow in the lower portion. The sleepers arealternately connected two-bytwo according two alignments symmetricalrelative to the longitudinal axis of the track section, by longitudinalsections 2 which are rather narrow and slightly in relief above thesleepers. The track section has a straight axis, but it may be forced toassume a curved or bended axis by bending the same along the planecontaining sections 2. The track section is then secured to a restingplane through securing elements which can be caused to pass through apair of holes 3 formed in the central portion of two sleepers. In orderto impart flexibility to the track section the longitudinal sectionsinstead of being alternate along two alignments, are arranged along asingle alignment.

In order to connect two track sections with one another the end sleepers1a and lb have opposite coupling members. In the illustrated embodimentsince the track section has an even number of sleepers, the end sleepersare connected to the adjacent ones by means of a longitudinal section 2on the same alignment. On the other alignment the longitudinal section20 projects outwardly from the sleeper la and is similar to the previousones indicated at 2. The section 2a terminates with a transverseexpansion 52a close to which there is provided a transverse lower recess62a. Outside the sleeper 1b on the same alignment of the longitudinalsection 2a there is provided a mouth formation 52b open upwardly andarranged to receive the expanded portion 520 of an adjacent tracksection. The outer edge of the mouth 52b has a recess 62b having a formsuch that it couples with the recess 62a of the adjacent track section.Along the above-mentioned alignments which will be straight or bendedaccording to a desired configuration rails 4 will be arranged straightor bended respectively.

the sleeper, where the tooth 9b may be engaged.

plate is usually secured to the sleepers. From the central zone of therib 5a a finger 5d extends upwardly to a higher level than the rib 5cand together with a nutshaped lug 5e defines a clamp member which in thereal railroads is secured to such plate and clamp the rail down at oneside thereof. To this end the finger 5d has an inclined portion whichfollows the pattern of the lower flange of the rail 4, and a verticalportion following the vertical rib or web of the rail. Below the finger5d a slot 6 is formed in the sleeper 1 in order to permit the formationof the same projection when the track section consists of plasticsmaterial. Outside the intersection with each of said alignments thesleeper has a pair of ribs 7 which are parallel to the same alignment.

The rail can thus be positioned on the various sleepers of one or moretrack sections, and is arranged between the fingers 5d and the pairs ofribs 7 and rest on the longitudinal sections 2 and failing the latterbeing provided on the sleepers which reach the same level. The lowerflange of the rail is in fact inserted below the fingers 5d and helddown at the opposite side by the ribs 7. A clamping member is providedto secure definitely the rail to the longitudinal sections and consistsof a block 8 having its upper portion with a configuration similar tothat of the said hook element 5. The similar parts are then indicated bysubstituting the reference number 8 for 5. The rib 80 will be arrangedbetween the ribs 7 while the face 8a rests on the relative sleeper. Thelower portion 9 of the block 8 is narrower than the upper portion andalmost at half height, the face of portion 9 being on the same side ofthe finger 8d, (i.e. at the side designed to be opposite the inside ofthe track section) has a sloping length 9a. At the lower portionopposite the block a tooth 9b projects which is champered at the lowerportion thereof. Also each of the blocks 8 consists of plastics materialand there is provided that a plurality of blocks be produced in a singleformation operation and that the various blocks are jointed by relativeconnections or bonds long and thin enough to be broken and with whichthey form a comb formation.

Thus it is possible to insert by pressure the block into a suitable seat10 of a sleeper by successively breaking the bond for connection to thebead. The seat 10 is formed in a solid portion of the sleeper. The lowerportion of the block 8 once the same has been inserted, does not projectfrom the resting face of the sleeper. The seat 10 is in fact delimitedby two vertical surfaces parallel to the sleeper axis. The inner face ofthe seat has a sloping portion 10a on which the length 9a of the blockrests, and the inner face just below the level of the portion 10a has anotch 10b towards the recess of 60 In the embodiment in FIG. 6 theclamping member 11 comprises an upper portion where on a common surface11a (with a pair of projections 11b similar to heads of bolts and a pairof ribs parallel to the longitudinal sections 2) fingers 11d areforgigdhayirg an almost symmetric configuration and provided withrelative nuts lTIA seat is thus defined between the fin gers arranged toreceive the rail. The lower portion 12 of the double clamping member 11has a periphery inside that of the surface 11a, the edges of which canthus rest on the sleeper l.

At the lower portion 12 a wedge shaped recess 12a is formed, thusdividing the same into two symmetric elements provided with teeth 12bextending in opposite directions. The engagement of the rail with theclamping member 11 is caused by temporarily bending the lower portion,i.e. by moving the two elements of the same close to one another. Themember 11 then can be better arranged along the rail by causing it toslide according to the requirements. Portion 12 is then inserted intothe seat 13 formed in the sleeper, still by bending the two elements ofthe same portion. The teeth 12b snap into notches 13b in a seat 13.Advantageously the surface 11a will be arranged between the side ribs 14in the sleeper 1 thus being at the same level as the longitudinalsections 2.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible to numerous modificationsand changes.

I claim:

1. A track for model railways comprising apair of parallel rails,supported by sleepers which are connected together by longitudinalsections extending below said rails, clamping means for said railsarranged in seats of the sleeper which are provided at the supportpoints of said rails, wherein according to the improvement saidclaimping means comprise a block member having a lower portion providedwith at least a tooth projection and adapted to be inserted by pressurein a respective seat of the sleeper so that the tooth projection engagesa notch of said seat, and an upper portion with at least a hookprojection formed thereon which engages the lower flange and the web ofthe rail at one side thereof, stop projections being further provided onsaid upper portion for abutment against the upper sur- 'face of thesleeper during insertion of the block member.

2. A track as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper portion is providedwith two symmetric hook projections arranged to engage at both sides thelower flange and the web of the rail and wherein at the lower portion awedge-shaped recess is formed which divides said lower portion into twosymmetric elements provided with tooth projections extending in oppositedirections, the insertion of said lower portion in the respective seatoccurring by moving said two elements close to one another thus causingthe tooth projections to engage the respective notches of the seat andthe hook projections to engage the lower flange of the rail.

1. A track for model railways comprising a pair of parallel rails,supported by sleepers which are connected together by longitudinalsections extending below said rails, clamping means for said railsarranged in seats of the sleeper which are provided at the supportpoints of said rails, wherein according to the improvement saidclaimping means comprise a block member having a lower portion providedwith at least a tooth projection and adapted to be inserted by pressurein a respective seat of the sleeper so that the tooth projection engagesa notch of said seat, and an upper portion with at least a hookprojection formed thereon which engages the lower flange and the web ofthe rail at one side thereof, stop projections being further provided onsaid upper portion for abutment against the upper surface of the sleeperduring insertion of the block member.
 2. A track as claimed in claim 1,wherein said upper portion is provided with two symmetric hookprojections arranged to engage at both sides the lower flange and theweb of the rail and wherein at the lower portion a wedge-shaped recessis formed which divides said lower portion into two symmetric elementsprovided with tooth projections extending in opposite directions, theinsertion of said lower portion in the respective seat occurring bymoving said two elements close to one another thus causing the toothprojections to engage the respective notches of the seat and the hookprojections to engage the lower flange of the rail.